Photos: Inside the making of ABC’s epic new surfing competition with Kelly Slater

Normally, Lemoore, Calif., might seem a strange place to set a surfing competition. After all, the Kings County burg is 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

But as it turns out, “normal” is not “The Ultimate Surfer’s” style.

ABC’s new reality competition grew out of a meeting of the minds in early 2019 between world-famous professional surfer Kelly Slater, World Surf League CEO Erik Logan, Pilgrim Media Group CEO and Chair Craig Piligian and UFC President Dana White at Surf Ranch, Slater’s artificial-wave oasis in the Central Valley. Production began in early 2020, only to be shut down by the coronavirus pandemic. When shooting resumed last summer, it was in a COVID-19 “bubble” at the ranch. Now the series’ long-awaited debut has arrived, with a two-night premiere beginning Monday.

An aerial view Kelly Slater’s 700-yard long Surf Ranch.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

And despite the long road, the timing is auspicious. Surfing just made its buzzy Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games, and Slater recently told The Times that the event could one day turn to wave pools — including, perhaps, his own, when the Olympics come to L.A. in 2028.

“The Ultimate Surfer,” hosted by former NFL player and “Bachelor” Jesse Palmer, features 14 men and women — including six Californians — vying for the title while living and training together at the ranch. Sports anchor Erin Coscarelli and “the voice of professional surfing” Joe Turpel will provide the color commentary, and Slater is on hand as lead consultant and special correspondent.

Surfer and Times photographer Allen J. Schaben captured exclusive images of the making of “The Ultimate Surfer” last March, before the shutdown, and returned to the ranch earlier this summer to photograph the action at the WSL’s Jeep Surf Ranch Pro, where athletes from around the globe showed off what the ranch can do.

— Meet the champion —

11-time World Surf League world champion surfer Kelly Slater is interviewed during production on “The Ultimate Surfer” reality show. As the Surf Ranch Creator, Slater offered information on how to compete well in each of the surf challenges through video messages.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

ABC’s “The Ultimate Surfer” has a two-night premiere on Aug. 23 and Aug. 24.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Surfer Kelly Slater turns off the top of a wave during production.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Kelly Slater waxes his board on the set of “The Ultimate Surfer.”

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

A video monitor shows Kelly Slater as he is interviewed on camera.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Members of the crew follow Kelly Slater as he runs out to surf for the show.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Kelly Slater poses for a production photographer on the set of “The Ultimate Surfer.”

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

The sun sets over Airstream campers overlooking a lake next to the wave pool on “The Ultimate Surfer.”

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

— Inside the ranch —

Carissa Moore, who became the first American female to qualify for surfing’s Olympic debut while clinching her fourth surfing world title in Hawaii, does a slashing turn off of a wave.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Gabriel Medina, two-time WSL world champion from Brazil, stretches alone at the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro presented by Adobe.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Four-time world champion Carissa Moore, of Hawaii, who became the first American female to qualify for surfing’s Olympic debut, does a slashing turn.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Tsutomu Igarashi folds his hands during a quiet moment before his son, Kanoa Igarashi of Huntington Beach, competes.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

A surfer does a slashing turn off the top of a wave while competing in the women’s qualifying rounds at the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Brazilian surfers and friends prepare to throw 2015 WSL world champion Adriano de Souza, who is retiring at the end of the season, into the water after countryman Filipe Toledo won the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Caroline Marks, 19, of San Clemente, does a slashing turn while competing. She is a member of Team USA Women’s Olympic Surf Team, a multiple national champion, the youngest female to compete in a World Surf League event and the youngest surfer to qualify for the women’s Championship Tour.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Ricardo Toledo, center, joins fellow countrymen, friends and family erupting in celebration as his son, Filipe Toledo of Brazil, wins the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro over Gabriel Modena.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Amid triple-digit heat, Filipe Toledo celebrates his Jeep Surf Ranch Pro win by pushing his child around on his surfboard.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Italo Ferreira, 2019 WSL world champion from Brazil, hugs his coach, Mike Parsons, left, while competing in the men’s qualifying rounds.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Kelly Slater does a slashing turn off a wave during the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro presented by Adobe.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Johanne Defay of France gets a victory lift as she celebrates winning the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro women’s event at the Surf Ranch in Lemoore, Calif.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Gabriel Medina, front, two-time WSL world champion from Brazil, and Seth Muniz, of Hawaii, sit in the ice tub while watching the action on a big screen.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Ricardo Toledo hugs his son, Filipe Toledo of Brazil, after he won the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro over Gabriel Modena.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Johanne Defay of France celebrates defeating reigning Surf Ranch champion and four-time world champion Carissa Moore of Hawaii.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)